Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Atoll lies off the coast of Belize, beyond the mainland barrier reef. A shallow fringe of coral surrounds a maze of channels, lagoons and low mangrove-covered cays. Seagrass beds spread through the sheltered interior, connecting the mangroves with the reef edge. The atoll’s many small islands and submerged flats form a complex boundary between the protected lagoon waters and the deeper Caribbean outside.